Dr Philip Dixon, director of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) in Wales, said sweeping changes to qualifications in each of the home nations makes it increasingly difficult to compare pupil performance.

8.42am

People are taking to social media to share their excitement and good wishes. Do you have a message of support for students getting their results today? Tweet it to us at @WalesOnline and we'll share them here.

GCSE Results Day!! Hope you all get the results you need.. Best wishes for the future xx #gcseresults

More results coming in. These are from Bishop Hedley High in Merthyr Tydfil.

Head teacher Maureen Harris said: "We are delighted to announce the exceptional results at GCSE with all pupils gaining a 100% pass rate at 5 A*-G.

"87% of pupils achieved 5 A*-C grades and 60.3% achieved 5 A*-C including English and Maths.

"These are the best results the school has achieved in its history and it demonstrates the hard work and commitment of pupils, parents and staff. This also reflects the upward trend taking place within the school over the last three years."

9.04am

Want to leave a message of good luck or congratulations for a student today? Here's how.

Results in from Mary Immaculate High School in the Vale of Glamorgan now.

Students, staff and families are celebrating a fourth consecutive set of record GCSE results with 98% of students achieving 5 or more A*-C grades, with 60% including English and mathematics.

Head teacher Marc Belli said, “We are delighted with the performance of our Year 11 students this year. While we have seen a number of outstanding individual performances, we are most impressed by the fact that nearly all students achieved 5 or more A*-C grades.

"That we have achieved another record-breaking year is also particularly pleasing. Results at the school have risen consistently over the last four years. The percentage of 5 or more A*-C is now 75% higher than it was in 2009 and 51% higher when compared to 5 or more A*-C including English and mathematics.

"This is a fantastic achievement and the result of the hard-work and dedication of the staff, the determination of our fabulous students, and the unstinting support of families.

"On behalf at everyone at the school, I should like to wish all our outgoing students the best of luck in their future endeavours.”

9.32am

Our reporters are out and about at school's across Wales this morning.

For these Rhydywaun Comprehensive students, GCSE results day marks an end to a year of uncertainty.

Until recently they did not know if they would be able to return for sixth form at their school.

Merthyr Council proposed to cut funding to post-16 transport, which would have forced the school's sixth form to close as half its members travel from Merthyr which has no Welsh-medium secondary school.

The decision was eventually overturned following a student-led campaign.

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